NBA stars and the Cosa Nostra mafia: the FBI uncovered a large-scale gambling scam worth tens of millions

High-profile scandal in the USA: the FBI made arrests in the case of illegal gambling involving NBA stars

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a large-scale operation that covered 11 states, as a result of which more than 30 people were arrested. The arrests are related to two major cases of illegal gambling, the turnover of which is estimated at tens of millions of dollars.

The first case focuses on insider bets made by online bookmakers on NBA matches. Miami Heat defenceman Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones were arrested on this charge. They are accused of transferring confidential information about the injuries of players to third parties. The investigation has identified at least seven matches between February 2023 and March 2024 that are suspicious.

So, in March 2023, Rozir, according to the FBI, informed his accomplices in advance of his intention to leave the set early, citing an injury. This allowed the attackers to place bets in excess of $200,000 on the fact that the player would not get his statistics. Damon Jones is also involved in the case: it is alleged that he passed on insider information about LeBron James' injury before the Lakers' game against the Milwaukee Bucks in February 2023. In addition, he provided confidential information before the match against the Oklahoma City Thunder in January 2024.

Fraudulent poker and the mafia connection

The second case, related to the first, concerns the organisation of cheating poker games. Here, the Portland Trail Blazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, as well as the already mentioned Damon Jones, were in the spotlight.

Investigators believe that Billups and Jones used their NBA star status to lure wealthy victims into underground games held in Las Vegas, Miami and New York. These games were organised in collusion with four powerful Cosa Nostra mafia families from New York: Bonanno, Genovese, Gambino and Lucchese.

Sophisticated methods were used to deceive the players: fraudulent devices for shuffling cards (best throwers), special tables with X-rays, and contact lenses that made it possible to read marked cards. The total damage caused to the victims is estimated at $7 million. One of the victims lost $1.8 million in just one evening.

In case of non-payment of debts, the mafia resorted to its standard methods: extortion and robbery. The proceeds of crime were laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.

The NBA management reacted immediately, suspending Rozier and Billups from their activities. The FBI assistant director said in a statement that the arrests were just the "tip of the iceberg" and the investigation would continue.